Antonio Conte has reportedly persuaded midfielder Cesc Fabregas to remain at Chelsea next season by promising him more regular football.
The Spain international was left frustrated for large parts of the Blues' title-winning campaign last time out, going two months without playing a top-flight match from September.
Fabregas started just 18 games overall, the vast majority of which came in the second half of the season when helping his side to clinch the Premier League crown.
Conte has moved to bring in Tiemoue Bakayoko to play alongside N'Golo Kante in the engine room next season, but the London Evening Standard reports that Fabregas has been informed he still has a vital role to play.
It is claimed that a meeting was held between player and manager to discuss his part in next season's plans, with Conte - who penned a new contract on Tuesday night - conceding that the ex-Arsenal man should have been used more often in 2016-17.
Fabregas, also benched for the FA Cup final defeat to the Gunners, recently vowed to "fight" for his place at Stamford Bridge.
Daniel Lewis
